WEDNESDAY

Smash it up “Smash,” the title track of the new recording by jazz vocalist/pianist/composer Patricia Barber, is about something most of us can relate to: the end of a relationship. Barber says, “. . . the sound of a heart breaking should be the loudest, screamiest, shriek­iest combination of sounds there could be.” Hear her sounds at the Regattabar. Jan. 30, 7:30 p.m. $25. Regattabar, Charles Hotel, 1 Bennett St., Cambridge. 617-661-5000, www.regattabarjazz.com

THURSDAY

World according to Irving The novelist who brought you “The World According to Garp” and “The Cider House Rules” (among others) is back with more quirky characters. “In One Person” tells the story of a bisexual man navigating the world, his sexuality, and his crush on a transgender librarian. John Irving discusses the book at a Kennedy Library Forum with novelist Tom Perrotta. Jan. 31, 6-7:30 p.m. Free. JFK Library, Stephen Smith Hall, Columbia Point, Boston. 617-514-1643, www.jfklibrary.org

Through the roof It’s a little chilly for front porch music, but you can still hear PorchFest bands at Raising the Nave Porch Roof. The event will raise money to fix up the new Nave Gallery Annex porch so it can be the site of future outdoor gigs. Performers include Cargo Cult, Litehouse, Dirty Water Brass Band, and Dust Clouds of Mars. Jan. 31, 8 p.m. $10. PA’s Lounge, 345 Somerville Ave., Somerville. 617-776-1557, www.paslounge.com

Piano players Fans of the piano will be interested in the next show in the New Gallery Concert Series. PianosPlus features four pianists (Sarah Bob, Marti Epstein, Ellen Mandel, and John McDonald), baritone Daniel Neer, and multimedia work by Chelsea Revelle in work by Justin Barish, Epstein, Mandel, McDonald, and Randall Woolf. Jan. 31, 7 p.m. $20, $15 students, seniors, kids. Community Music Center, 34 Warren Ave., Boston. www.newgalleryconcertseries.org